Impressions of Miller

Most have yet to make their way out to Miller Motorsports Park, in the Utah high desert just outside of Salt Lake City. I've had the good fortune of making out there for the first two ALMS meetings in the desert. Both times we (my dad and I) road tripped out there, as we both love being on the road.



Pros:

• Spectators can get impressively close to the action on the track. My local tracks are Laguna and Sears, and neither allow the fans to get anywhere near as close as Miller does.
• Catch fencing...what's that. There only one small strip that I can recall just along the front straight just prior to the start/finish line, which isn't a spectator area anyways. Nothing worse that trying to take picture through catch fencing.
• The grandstands are covered...which is nice when it's 105 deg F out and you want to get out of the sun.
• Spectators can stand at pit out and take pictures down the pit lane and of the cars leaving the pits. Pretty cool don't know of another track that does that.

Cons:

• Layout...for a 4.5 mile track with 24 turns, there's surprising little passing opportunities. Turn 1 is just a bit to fast to be a good spot. Really the only great passing spot is turn 5 (Black Rock Hairpin). There's more here, but I leave it there for now.
• The concessions absolutely suck. You're pretty much stuck with burgers and dogs...nothing cool...and if you want those burgers and dogs, you have to wait in ridiculously long lines in one of the three concession stands around the track. The other thing that absolutely is a deal breaker for me is that if you wanted a beer, you had to wait in the same damn line that people getting dogs and burgers had to wait in. Come on guys figure it out...car racing=beer drinking fans whether you like it or not. (with all fairness the Utah liquor laws aren't the friendliest to fermented beverages).
• It's flat...now when I say flat I mean flat...like a pancake.
• No character...Road Atlanta has the esses, Laguna has the Corkscrew, Road America has the carousel and the back straight, Lime Rock...well is all character, Sebring has Sunset Bend, etc...Miller is a featureless it's got a bunch of turns but none that really stand out. They got close with the Attitudes, but didn't quite get there all the way. The long front straight is cool, but T1 just isn't sharp enough to make it exciting.
• Can't get to the infield. Would be cool...but can't get there.

I think the main problem is they were trying to do to much. They want you to be able to see the entire track from every location...but it's to big. The cars look like little dots from the far end of the track. It just doesn't do it for me. Just because you can stick 4.5 miles of track in a box doesn't mean you should. Funny thing is, if ALMS decide to run the outer course next year (as rumored), which looks like it removes a mile and a half from the total length, it don't really take away any good passing zones which is a bit crazy.

Will I go again...sure I probably will (I'm bringing my own beer next time). It's more about the event than the track in particular. But, I will have to pass next year as my future wife probably wouldn't be to happy if I miss our wedding.